Non-qualified partner included in NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension

Before 9 November 2020, you could include your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension payments. You could do this if you qualified for NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension but your partner didn’t (eg, they were under 65).

After 9 November 2020, if you exclude your partner from your payments, you can’t re-include them again.

Your rate will change to $763.64 (after tax) a fortnight, or $879.58 (before tax) a fortnight. Your partner will no longer get payments.

Your partner may be able to apply for a benefit instead. You may also be able to get other payments from us for health or household costs.

You can use our online tool to check what you might get.

How much you get

If you included your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, your fortnightly payments will be:

After tax (fortnightly)	Before tax (fortnightly)
Up to $725.84 each	Up to $834.08 each

When you’re getting other income

Your and your partner's combined income will affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments.

Combined income includes any income either of you have from, eg:

• earnings
• rental properties, less certain expenses (eg, house insurance, rates, repairs and maintenance)
• overseas pensions
• interest
• shares
• money from a retirement fund that you can access and withdraw.

If you have income, your total rate between you and your partner ($1,668.16 before tax) will be reduced as follows:

• the first $160 of combined income a week (before tax) doesn’t affect your payments
• for every $1 you get over $160, your total NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payment is reduced by 70 cents
• the reduced rate will then be divided into 2 and you and your partner will get half each (after tax).

If your income is over $37,610.11

If your income is over $37,610.11 or more (before tax) a year, you’ll get more NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension if your partner is not included in your payments.

At that stage, you’ll need to decide if you want to either:

• keep your partner included in your payments, or
• exclude your partner from your payments.

If you decide to exclude your partner, you won’t be able to re-include them at a later date. You can call us to talk about the best option for you.

Tell us if something changes

You and your partner need to tell us about any changes that could affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension. If you don't tell us about these changes, your payment could reduce or stop.

Find out what you and your partner need to do:

How to tell us about changes

You can use MyMSD to tell us about changes, or call us to talk about this.